Pilot of a government small transport twin inadvertently flew into class a airspace during a VFR climb to stay on top of an overcast. His altimeter indicated only 17800 ft and not the FL182 reported by ATC. He blames either his encoding altimeter or the cold front condition surrounding his flight. However, if he would have stayed at a VFR altitude or set his altimeter to 29 pt 92 for FL180, he may have been ok.

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Attributes
ACN	355460
Time
Date	199612
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fnl
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17800 msl bound upper : 18200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv tracon : den
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : v81
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time total : 825
ASRS Report	355460
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While climbing on victor 81, attempting to get above clouds and stay below 18000 ft, the den approach controller requested my altitude and followed with, 'do you have any respect for airspace?' my altimeter indicated 17800 ft but her information indicated FL182. I descended immediately to be sure, and continued en route. I will have the encoding altimeter checked and will also investigate to see if a change in barometric pressure associated with a cold front could have been enough to make such a difference. My altimeter was set on departure from loveland field, fort collins, co.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A GOV SMT TWIN INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO CLASS A AIRSPACE DURING A VFR CLB TO STAY ON TOP OF AN OVCST. HIS ALTIMETER INDICATED ONLY 17800 FT AND NOT THE FL182 RPTED BY ATC. HE BLAMES EITHER HIS ENCODING ALTIMETER OR THE COLD FRONT CONDITION SURROUNDING HIS FLT. HOWEVER, IF HE WOULD HAVE STAYED AT A VFR ALT OR SET HIS ALTIMETER TO 29 PT 92 FOR FL180, HE MAY HAVE BEEN OK.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING ON VICTOR 81, ATTEMPTING TO GET ABOVE CLOUDS AND STAY BELOW 18000 FT, THE DEN APCH CTLR REQUESTED MY ALT AND FOLLOWED WITH, 'DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR AIRSPACE?' MY ALTIMETER INDICATED 17800 FT BUT HER INFO INDICATED FL182. I DSNDED IMMEDIATELY TO BE SURE, AND CONTINUED ENRTE. I WILL HAVE THE ENCODING ALTIMETER CHKED AND WILL ALSO INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF A CHANGE IN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT COULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. MY ALTIMETER WAS SET ON DEP FROM LOVELAND FIELD, FORT COLLINS, CO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.